Bedtime

Tonight was definitely one of those pulling-out-your-hair, wonder-why-you-ever-had -children bedtimes!  This week has been our first full week of school in a long time, and the kids are TIRED.  The parents are TIRED.  Joel had a big test this week in  his class and has barely slept.  Because of said class, I am responsible for things at home.  Plus, last night the girls started a new gymnastics schedule, we didn't get home until 8pm which is way too late to start bedtime.  It was the only time slot though where they could have their lessons at the same time!

I'm recording this in my blog so I don't forget the challenges of raising kids.  Hopefully one day I can encourage some young mom (assuming my kids turn out all right which is still up for debate).  Each kid was hungry at the exact moment of bedtime.  They didn't want apples or bananas to eat.  They all know to put their pjs on and brush their teeth, but for some reason I have to tell each one individually step by step?  I was also drying the girls' hair because they took showers and Amelia likes to look in the mirror while I dry her hair, and my hair dryer cord won't reach that far, so one half of her head is wet and the other dry.  Joel read Luke a story while the girls were bathing, so of course Amelia wanted the long story after her shower.  And, we have recently been invaded by stink bugs!  I did not miss them at all.  So every few minutes someone starts screaming loudly.  The deal is that if they kill it themselves, they can have a piece of candy, which leads to fights over who "gets" to kill the bug, and it's almost always Amelia anyway.

And this is just the beginning of the bedtime process.  For the next 45 minutes we will be interrupted regularly for drinks, bugs, tattle telling, and "one more hug".  What parent can tell their kid that they can't give them another hug?  I really hope our new neighbors did not hear me yelling, "Come over here so I can pray for you!" when our windows were open.  I don't think that would be the best witness.